coop design and deep litter method

[shescraftee]

I am wondering what coop design would work best with the deep litter method?
In reading about DLM i saw a picture where someone needed to add a kick board along the base to keep it all in. Would this method work well with the tractor coop or large A frame design verses something above ground? the DLM appears to have less odor is this true? i sure hope so because i am on an urban lot & the best spot (not movable) for my hens would be rather close to the house about 20 feet. I am limited to 4 hens also... Please tell me what you think. THANK YOU in advance for all your advise.
* excited about being a future chicken owner!! **

 

[duckinnut]

Welcome to the world of chickens, I'm a year in which started as a 4H thing for my kids and turned into an addiction for me. But anyhow the deep litter method is what I use and works quite well and does not smell. Pending on your coup design,not sure what you got,but I built n 8x8 shed type with a slant roof and is accessible which is key in dlm. I read your in an urban enviro and restricted so as long you can get into it some fashion to roll over the shavings(about once a week). Depending on your style of coop you may need what I call a knee door,really not that tall but you get the idea just to keep the shavings in to a degree. It also serves as chicken block so they dont give you the bums rush to get out. Its on hinges so I can fold it down during cleaning made easier. Also if you a door for the chicks to get out they are going to drag some shavings out the door with them,its inevitable.

 

[brandislee]

Yeah, I think a kick board is handy even without DLM, to make the chickens hesitate- otherwise they would make a break for it every time I opened the door.

And if you're building the coop yourself, think of DLM when you cut the pop door. Since my chickens had been in the coop for about three weeks before I cut out the pop door I already had my deep litter on the floor. So I just cut the pop door so the bottom of it lined up with the top of the shavings. They still do drag some shavings out, but not much.